Uber rival Grab raising $2 billion from SoftBank, China's Didi: WSJ

A Grab motor driver is seen in a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta

(Reuters) - Grab, Uber Technologies Inc’s [UBER.UL] biggest rival in Southeast Asia, is raising as much as $2 billion in funding from Japan’s SoftBank Group (9984.T) and China’s top ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The deal, which could close in the next few weeks, would value Singapore-based Grab at more than $5 billion, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The reported funding comes amid efforts by Grab to transform into a consumer technology firm that also offers loans, electronic money transfer and money-market funds.

Grab declined to comment, while SoftBank and Didi did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Grab, which operates its ride-hailing platform in 55 cities across seven countries, raised $750 million in a funding round in September, with sources then valuing the five-year-old startup at over $3 billion.

The reported deal also comes at a time when San Francisco-based Uber, the world’s largest ride-hailing service, faces setbacks at home ranging from accusations of a sexist work culture and driver protests.

Uber’s challenges have culminated in the departure of co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick, who stepped down under investor pressure last month.